Post by Angie on Jul 12, 2006 20:28:38 GMT -5
It's not as interesting as it sounds.
I am going to be posting every essay I can find on my hard drive, so keep in mind that these were written at different stages of my abilities, and sometimes the teacher would force us to do certain things. Also, we must use a certain (slightly annoying) format and do five paragraphs in our essays.
Oh, and this was written in a group of four people, and we got a lower grade on it than I've gotten on any other essay before.
I really don't like this essay. . . But feel free to read it anyway!
~
“Nobody’s perfect.” is a very common saying that most people just brush off as an unimportant comment; however, they rarely realize how true it can actually be. This expression exemplifies the fact that everybody has countless faults. For example, one can be unknowingly prejudice against certain people. One can also have mixed feelings (such as of love and hate) toward people. Numerous stories attempt to depict these human weaknesses. Two of these stories, the film School Ties and the book A Separate Peace by John Knowles, portray this point very well through the comparisons of characters, settings, and themes.
A Separate Peace and School Ties contain very similar aspects of their characters. Two of these people who share the same qualities are Brinker and Rip. Brinker, from the novel, sets up a mock trial in order to uncover the truth about why Finny fell out of the tree. During this trial, he remains impartial toward quarrels among the students, thus allowing himself to do what is right. Like Brinker, Rip’s highest priority is being truthful. For example, he reveals who actually cheated on the history test, even though it is his good friend Dillon. In addition to Brinker and Rip, Finny and David are very much alike. Finny is the person everyone aspires to be; he is carefree, forgiving, and charismatic. Comparably, David is envied for his athletic talent and his ability to draw people to him. Also, he does not let people push him around or completely rule his life. Finally, and most importantly, Gene and Dillon share many of the same attributes. In A Separate Peace, Gene struggles with the fact that he is not the person he hopes to be. For example, he discovers that he is jealous of his best friend Finny because he is the epitome of everything Gene wants to be. Likewise, Dillon is envious of David because he is such a skilled quarterback and does not have to live up to the strict expectations of high society. These characters and their similarities help demonstrate the imperfection of people in general.
When further comparing A Separate Peace and School Ties, the settings, which are very important to the plots, have many striking similarities and differences. The most obvious example is the relationship between St. Matthews and Devon. St. Matthews, the private school in the film, has very high standards for academics, athletics, and character. Devon, the staple place in A Separate Peace, also forces high expectations on its students, but physical strength and agility are more valued during that time because most of the boys are preparing for war. Additionally, the restroom plays an important role to the plot development of School Ties because the boys joke around as they get ready for their days, but through further analyzation, religious and social aggression are fairly prominent. Similarly, the Butt Room in A Separate Peace is where Gene is accused of ruining Finny, and even though it is portrayed as simply teasing, it deepens Gene’s battle with himself. Lastly, French class and the front line of World War II are parallels. The class is something the students are forced to take, and it is extremely stressful for the reluctant boys, even to the point of driving them mad. Likewise, the Devon pupils must enter the war, by either will or draft, and many would go to great lengths to avoid the impending event. All of these key settings play a major role in the plot and character development, as well as better allowing people to understand the themes.
These themes also present interesting comparisons. In A Separate Peace, Gene experiences much inner conflict between what is right and wrong, true and false, and he is constantly struggling against jealously and mistrust. His reflections are insightful and create a solemn mood that lasts throughout the entire story. In the end, Gene deduces that, “wars [are made] . . . by something ignorant in the human heart.” This realization sets the basic theme of the novel. Likewise, in School Ties, David experiences inner struggles with the fact that he is a Jew in a prejudice school. The mood ranges from exciting and happy to sad and angry. Throughout the film, it can be observed that religion and birth have no connection with one’s personality. Furthermore, David discovers that even people who appear nice are not immune to overwhelming jealous or prejudice feelings. These themes both portray the deep-rooted battles that everyone experiences.
A Separate Peace and School Ties both express the flaws that reside within the human heart and mind. Everyone has some sort of prejudice or jealousy or fear inside, but the ones who truly stand higher than the crowd are those who are always willing to overcome those negative feelings. If people could just resist those emotions, no matter how deep or justified or temporary, they could join that great elite. Then, once the few become the many, human nature, society, and the world itself can improve to no end.
I am going to be posting every essay I can find on my hard drive, so keep in mind that these were written at different stages of my abilities, and sometimes the teacher would force us to do certain things. Also, we must use a certain (slightly annoying) format and do five paragraphs in our essays.
Oh, and this was written in a group of four people, and we got a lower grade on it than I've gotten on any other essay before.
I really don't like this essay. . . But feel free to read it anyway!
~
“Nobody’s perfect.” is a very common saying that most people just brush off as an unimportant comment; however, they rarely realize how true it can actually be. This expression exemplifies the fact that everybody has countless faults. For example, one can be unknowingly prejudice against certain people. One can also have mixed feelings (such as of love and hate) toward people. Numerous stories attempt to depict these human weaknesses. Two of these stories, the film School Ties and the book A Separate Peace by John Knowles, portray this point very well through the comparisons of characters, settings, and themes.
A Separate Peace and School Ties contain very similar aspects of their characters. Two of these people who share the same qualities are Brinker and Rip. Brinker, from the novel, sets up a mock trial in order to uncover the truth about why Finny fell out of the tree. During this trial, he remains impartial toward quarrels among the students, thus allowing himself to do what is right. Like Brinker, Rip’s highest priority is being truthful. For example, he reveals who actually cheated on the history test, even though it is his good friend Dillon. In addition to Brinker and Rip, Finny and David are very much alike. Finny is the person everyone aspires to be; he is carefree, forgiving, and charismatic. Comparably, David is envied for his athletic talent and his ability to draw people to him. Also, he does not let people push him around or completely rule his life. Finally, and most importantly, Gene and Dillon share many of the same attributes. In A Separate Peace, Gene struggles with the fact that he is not the person he hopes to be. For example, he discovers that he is jealous of his best friend Finny because he is the epitome of everything Gene wants to be. Likewise, Dillon is envious of David because he is such a skilled quarterback and does not have to live up to the strict expectations of high society. These characters and their similarities help demonstrate the imperfection of people in general.
When further comparing A Separate Peace and School Ties, the settings, which are very important to the plots, have many striking similarities and differences. The most obvious example is the relationship between St. Matthews and Devon. St. Matthews, the private school in the film, has very high standards for academics, athletics, and character. Devon, the staple place in A Separate Peace, also forces high expectations on its students, but physical strength and agility are more valued during that time because most of the boys are preparing for war. Additionally, the restroom plays an important role to the plot development of School Ties because the boys joke around as they get ready for their days, but through further analyzation, religious and social aggression are fairly prominent. Similarly, the Butt Room in A Separate Peace is where Gene is accused of ruining Finny, and even though it is portrayed as simply teasing, it deepens Gene’s battle with himself. Lastly, French class and the front line of World War II are parallels. The class is something the students are forced to take, and it is extremely stressful for the reluctant boys, even to the point of driving them mad. Likewise, the Devon pupils must enter the war, by either will or draft, and many would go to great lengths to avoid the impending event. All of these key settings play a major role in the plot and character development, as well as better allowing people to understand the themes.
These themes also present interesting comparisons. In A Separate Peace, Gene experiences much inner conflict between what is right and wrong, true and false, and he is constantly struggling against jealously and mistrust. His reflections are insightful and create a solemn mood that lasts throughout the entire story. In the end, Gene deduces that, “wars [are made] . . . by something ignorant in the human heart.” This realization sets the basic theme of the novel. Likewise, in School Ties, David experiences inner struggles with the fact that he is a Jew in a prejudice school. The mood ranges from exciting and happy to sad and angry. Throughout the film, it can be observed that religion and birth have no connection with one’s personality. Furthermore, David discovers that even people who appear nice are not immune to overwhelming jealous or prejudice feelings. These themes both portray the deep-rooted battles that everyone experiences.
A Separate Peace and School Ties both express the flaws that reside within the human heart and mind. Everyone has some sort of prejudice or jealousy or fear inside, but the ones who truly stand higher than the crowd are those who are always willing to overcome those negative feelings. If people could just resist those emotions, no matter how deep or justified or temporary, they could join that great elite. Then, once the few become the many, human nature, society, and the world itself can improve to no end.
